diff --git a/config/Config-kernel.in b/config/Config-kernel.in
index 500f72672d..258163984e 100644
--- a/config/Config-kernel.in
+++ b/config/Config-kernel.in
@@ -387,12 +387,18 @@ config KERNEL_DEBUG_INFO_REDUCED
 	  DEBUG_INFO build and compile times are reduced too.
 	  Only works with newer gcc versions.
 
+# KERNEL_DEBUG_LL symbols must have the default value set as otherwise
+# KConfig wont evaluate them unless KERNEL_EARLY_PRINTK is selected
+# which means that buildroot wont override the DEBUG_LL symbols in target
+# kernel configurations and lead to devices that dont have working console
 config KERNEL_DEBUG_LL_UART_NONE
 	bool
+	default n
 	depends on arm
 
 config KERNEL_DEBUG_LL
 	bool
+	default n
 	depends on arm
 	select KERNEL_DEBUG_LL_UART_NONE
 	help